Master of Lust

As Rick's eyes fluttered open, he found the rabbit sitting close to him, her small hand gently resting on his forehead. Her touch radiated coolness and comfort, providing immense relief.

"Thank you buddy. Once we get back, I am going to think of a suitable name for you," Rick managed a weak smile as he looked at the Rabbit and muttered his thanks. However, just as he thought he was recovering, a wave of nausea suddenly hit him. Rick felt a churn in his stomach.

He hastily stumbled out of bed and dashed toward the bathroom. Collapsing to his knees, he began to vomit violently, expelling the contents of his almost empty stomach. The sudden illness left him reeling and weakened, unsure of what had triggered this reaction.

"It's alright," the Rabbit hopped closer to Rick, offering some solace with its presence. With its tiny paws covering its nose, it gently commented, "It's alright. I think you're still traumatized by... well, everything that happened."

Rick nodded, sitting on the bathroom floor, his back against the wall. He exhaled heavily, "I thought that I could bury it deep inside of me if I didn't think about it, but... that ring actually... it brought it all back to the surface." The turmoil of memories and emotions weighed heavily on him.

"Anyways... You will feel better now, master," the Rabbit reassured Rick.

"Thanks, buddy..." Rick managed a smile, despite the lingering discomfort. "How long was I out for?" he asked.

"About eight... nine hours, master," the Rabbit replied. "You were very much exhausted both mentally and physically."

"That long?" Rick was a bit surprised. He then looked at his hands. His fingers were still shaking, but compared to earlier, it was nothing much. Rick nodded, realizing he had needed the rest. "Well, I needed that, I guess."

"We better hit the road," Rick stood up, as he cleaned after the mess and walked out of the room. It was already dawn, and sun rays streaming through the curtains into the room, "It is already seven. We should be out of here in thirty minutes max." Rick told his plan to the Rabbit.

"We are leaving? But master, don't you have to meet Evelina? I thought you became friends with her," The Rabbit confusedly asked Rick.

"Friends?" Rick chuckled, hearing the Rabbit's remark. "Well, more like 'Friends with Benefits,' alright?"

"But you are right, I should meet with her first," Rick nodded. He was in double mind actually. Rick considered his options. The six to seven million dollars did sound tempting, but after his successful haul on this trip, the money Evelina owed him seemed rather insignificant. And because of that, somehow, the money Evelina owed him, doesn't seem much.

On the contrary, Rick was cautious about his meeting with Evelina. Any association with her raised red flags in his mind. He didn't want to get embroiled in a mess and find himself on another killing spree.

He decided to meet with her once, and then he'd decide on his next steps. But he was determined to take the upper hand in their dealings and be ready to leave whenever he felt like it.

With that thought, Rick speedily crammed all his gear into his bag and plopped it by the front door. He did a swift sweep of the room, just in case he'd forgotten anything, like a clue that could get him into hot water. But nope, it was all good, nothing there.

Rick was well aware that someone like that wealthy girl could easily track him down. She had both the means and the resources to do so. He also realized he had booked the room under his own name and provided his passport for identification. But hey, he was learning on the fly about this stuff.

Give him a few more tries, and he might just become a pro at deception and evading pursuit. But for now, the top priority was staying alive.

Without any delay, Rick made his way to the reception, intending to inquire about Evelina Bloodthorne, Garret, or Gruff. These were the only names he had, and if this approach didn't yield any results, he would need to come up with another plan.

But the moment Rick swung open the door, he found himself face to face with two burly men clad in matching suits, reminiscent of the guards he had encountered in the Whispering Wetlands. Without missing a beat, they stepped in front of him, forming an impenetrable barrier and effectively blocking his path.

Without saying anything, the two man started sizing him up, looking at him with curious faces.

Rick felt a sinking feeling in his stomach as the men assessed him, their scrutiny unsettling, "Excuse me," Rick spoke first as he tried to push one man away.

"What's this about?" Rick inquired with a mixture of apprehension and annoyance.

"I am sorry, Mr Rick," One of the man finally spoke, "But you will have to come with us."

"Who the heck are you, and how in the world do you know my name?" Rick's eyes widened, and he felt a jolt of alarm. He had been super cautious not to reveal his identity to anyone on this entire trip.

"Don't be alarmed, Mr Rick. The young mistress has asked us to respectfully escort you to her room," the man said, "I apologize if I startled you. It was not my intention."

"Seriously, dude, what's with the excessive bowing? You're acting like his personal butler or something. And check this guy out, he can't even grow a proper beard. Are you sure she's not overhyping him?" The other man shot a disapproving glance at his overly servile companion.

"Quit your yap. No matter what, this guy is a lifesaver for the boss. So don't be a jackass, or I swear I'll kick your fancy behind, and you will be nursing that butt for a whole damn month," the first guy warned, and his partner begrudgingly zipped it. The other dude was actually pretty spooked by his buddy.

"Mr Rick, please," The man turned towards Rick with a friendly smile, trying to be polite and avoid any hassle.

Rick decided not to make a fuss and nodded, giving a slight gesture to let the man lead. And the man was more than happy to do so. Soon, Rick and the two men stepped inside the elevator. As they entered the elevator, the second man took out a card and swiftly scanned it on the control panel to get things moving.

~~~~~

The man informed Rick, "She's waiting for you inside." They were now standing in front of the door, the penthouse on the hotel's highest floor. The extravagance of renting such a room was undoubtedly jaw-dropping.

"Is she pissed?" Rick inquired with a furrowed brow as he eyed the door

"Would it be better if she were?" The man raised an eyebrow, wearing a sly grin.

"Well, is she alone?" Rick pressed on, unsure how to handle the situation.

"Do you want her to be?" The man replied with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

"Man, you are not helping your brother, alright?" Rick huffed in exasperation.

"Sorry, I am the only son in my family, No brother to babysit." The man shrugged and he casually stepped away, leaving Rick to deal with his situation on his own.

"You fucking good for nothing asshole... I will remember this," Rick muttered under his breath. With a resigned sigh, he pushed the door open and stepped inside, prepared to face whatever awaited him.

Now without dilly-dallying any longer, Rick swung open the heavy, mahogany front door, and he was instantly awestruck by the opulence of the penthouse. The polished marble floors gleamed beneath his feet, and he had to be careful not to slip and slide if he wore socks. The magnificent chandelier overhead bathed the entrance in a soft, warm glow.

The walls were adorned with exquisite art pieces, it might have cost someone a lifetime of collecting. Or they can be counterfeit.

To his right, a plush, overstuffed sofa beckoned from its corner, practically begging him to sink sink his holy ass into its heavenly cushions. It was adorned with silk pillows, each one meticulously arranged for the utmost comfort. On his left, a sleek bar with a granite countertop displayed a row of crystal glasses that sparkled enticingly in the ambient light.

As he ventured deeper into the penthouse, he was welcomed by enormous windows that framed a breathtaking, panoramic view of the cityscape. The skyline sparkled in the morning light, casting a soft and mesmerizing glow over everything. It put the view from his room to shame.

"Is the view to your liking?" Suddenly, Rick heard a familiar voice. Hearing the voice, Rick quickly turned to look and Evelina sat regally in a massive, throne-like chair, her presence commanding attention as she watched Rick with an amused glint in her eyes. She had appeared out of nowhere, startling him with her unexpected presence.

And behind her stood an old man who seemed to be standing at attention, as if life depended on it. He didn't even spare a glance in Rick's direction, lost in his own world.

Evelina flashed a grin and said, "Well, If you're interested, I can have your stuff moved right into this palace. It's cozy, don't you think?"

"Young miss, please pay attention to what you say," the old man chimed in, he spoke in an unhurried way, almost as if lecturing Evelina.

"Know your place, you can't baby me,"

'What the hell are they playing at, Princess and the Servant?' Rick couldn't help but wonder as he observed the peculiar dynamic between Evelina and the old man.

* * * * *